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Charles Mix County commissioners approve property sales, adopt supplemental budget and clear path to school‑fund bond program
Summary
In meetings across 1941 the Charles Mix County Board of Commissioners approved sales of county‑owned parcels, adopted a supplemental 1941 budget, formalized a food‑stamp plan and passed resolutions enabling the issuance of bonds to fund outstanding warrants and permanent‑school indebtedness.
Lake Andes, S.D. — The Charles Mix County Board of Commissioners met repeatedly through 1941 and took a string of actions to settle tax‑forfeiture sales, shore up county finances and prepare longer‑term funding for school‑fund and warrant liabilities.
At meetings this year the board approved the auditor’s reports of tax‑sale and foreclosure sales and signed resolutions authorizing deeds and installment contracts for multiple parcels in Platte, Lake Andes and other sections of the county. County Auditor records presented to the board show purchases at public auction for a mix of cash and installment terms; the board formally approved the sales and directed the auditor to execute deeds to the successful bidders.
Why it matters: The sales reduce the county’s inventory of tax‑forfeited land and bring immediate and installment revenue into county coffers. Several sale approvals also included short‑term installment plans the board approved after reviewing appraisals and bidders’ offers.
In financial policy, the board adopted a supplemental 1941 budget after the statutorily required public notice and hearing. Commissioners said the supplemental items covered emergency repairs, additional claims and items not included in the previously adopted final budget. The board directed the county auditor to publish and file the supplemental budget as required by state law.
The commission also moved on a larger financing plan to retire floating warrants and to address outstanding mortgage defaults held in the state’s permanent‑school fund. At a July meeting the board adopted a resolution authorizing a two‑part funding program: one series of bonds to fund outstanding warrants and a second series structured for investment by the Permanent School Fund. The board recorded terms in principle: a warrant‑funding series at a three‑percent interest rate and a permanent‑school‑funding series at two percent, with sinking‑fund and levy mechanisms specified so debt service would be raised by levy until bonds are retired. The county auditor was directed to prepare bond forms and to work with bond counsel and the Commissioner of School and Public Lands on certificates and approvals.
The board also approved a locally administered Surplus Marketing (food‑stamp) plan to allow the county to distribute surplus agricultural commodities through a revolving fund. Commissioners authorized an initial revolving amount (the board set a local working fund) and delegated signing authority for program documents to the chair so the county could begin operations promptly.
Other business at meetings across the year included:
- Opening and accepting bids for county gasoline and oil contracts and for a wind‑charger/electric‑charger installation at the county home; the board accepted the low compliant bid for the wind charger from the vendor publicly listed at the bid opening.
- Designating local banks as county depositories and approving custodial arrangements and collateral schedules for deposited funds.
- Approving routine and emergency claims across county funds, and appointing or confirming several township officers, school clerks and other local officers as required by statute.
- Approving a series of county housekeeping and administrative resolutions, including the adoption of a procedure to receive Permanent School Fund investments and to operate sinking funds for bond repayment.
What’s next: The board directed staff to finalize the bond documentation and to submit the required materials to the Commissioner of School and Public Lands for the school‑fund purchases; it also set follow‑up steps for deeds and title transfer on tax‑sale properties, and for implementing the Surplus Marketing revolving fund. The county is now positioned to execute the financing plan once legal opinions and agency approvals are complete.
Attributions: The board’s actions were recorded in the minutes and in reports the county auditor presented at multiple meetings; formal approvals were made by majority vote of Commissioners Charles Charvat (chair), Edward O. Holter and Joseph Novak.
The commission adjourned following the final December session and set routine follow‑ups and public notices required under state law for the bond and property actions.